Flapper valve



Dec. 27, 1949 R. G. cox E1 AL 2,492,271

. FLAPPIER VALVE Filed Oct. 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J7VUQ'YHOTA.

HUEEFRT [13x 1% DUNIIJLDW MIIHN I Dec. 27, 1949 R COX .5, 2,492,271

FLAPPER VALVE Filed Oct. 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' DUNIIILD WMm/NPatented Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLAPPER VALVE RobertG. Cox and Donald W. Main, Jackson,

Mich, assignors to Aeroquip Corporation, J ackson, Mich., a corporationof Michigan Application October 11, 1946, Serial No. 702,608

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to fluid conducting couplings, and moreparticularly to self-sealing couplings.

In the art there are a number of designs of selfsealing couplings, butthey are characterized by expense of manufacture and by lack ofsimplicity of design. The coupling according to the present inventionhas a valve associated with each portion thereof, for sealing eachportion against the escape of fluid when the coupling is opened. Thecouplin arrangement, together with the associated valve structure, iseffective, simple of design, and cheap to manufacture.

An object of the present invention is to provide a self-sealingcoupling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a self-sealingcouplinghaving a valve in each portion thereof, each valve having a seatdefining the central opening and a disc-like valve member swingable intoengagement with the seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swingable valve memberof the character described, which is of resilient, sheet, springmaterial.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swingable valve of thecharacter described arranged for pivotal movement from one side of theseat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a resiliently biased,swingable disc valve member adapted to be opened by exerting pressureagainst the surface thereof in a direction opposite the closingdirection.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a valve of thecharacter described having associated therewith an annular chamber inwhich the valve is disposed while open.

A further object of the invention is to provide a couplin of thecharacter described wherein one coupling portion is provided with aswingable valve member resiliently biased outwardly into closingposition and movable inwardly into open position by a portion of theother coupling member.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a coupling, eachportion of which is provided with a valve of the character described.

These and other objects will be apparent from the arrangement, andcombination and construction of the parts when taken with the accompany=ing drawing, in which:

Fig. I is a vertical section through a coupling according to the presentinvention with the parts 3 thereof in coupled engagement, with thevalves of both coupling portions in open position,

Fig. II is a partial section on the line II-II of Fig. I showing onecoupling portion with the valve in closed position,

Fig. III is a vertical section of a coupling according to the presentinvention corresponding to the showing of Fig.1, but with the couplingportions in such relationship with respect to each other that the valvein one coupling portion is closed and in the other coupling portion ispartly open, and

Fig. IV is a section of the line IV--IV of Fig. III, showing a detail ofthe valve actuator structure.

Referring particularly to the drawings, reference character I indicatesa first coupling member and reference character 2 indicates a secondcoupling member. The coupling members I and 2 have threaded portions 3and 4 for securing them respectively in a fluid conductin line. Thecoupling member 2 is provided with an internally threaded nut 5 forcoacting with a male connecting portion 6 for holding coupling members Iand 2 together when in closed relation.

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference is made toFig. III. The coupling member I is provided with a valve member 1. Valvemember I preferably is of spring steel and disc-like in form. It hasriveted to it a bracket 8 to which is pivoted an actuator 9 by a pinIll. The actuator 9 is pivoted by a pin II to a ring I2 which isdisposed in an annular recess I3 in the coupling member I. A hairpinspring I5 is arranged under a pin I0 and bears against both the valvemember I and the actuator 9 to resiliently hold the actuator 9 insubstantially parallel relation with the valve member I.

The valve member 1, without structure additional to that alreadydescribed, would be free to swing back and forth on the pin I I.Adjacent the pin II and suitably mounted, as for example. in the ringI2, is a valve seat I6. The seat I5 may be of any suitable material, butpreferably is of synthetic rubber and is so related to the variouspositions which the valve member I may takewhen swinging about the pivotI I as to seat firmly with respect to the valve member I, when the valvemember 1 is normal to the longitudinal axis of the coupling member I.

The valve member I is resiliently biased against the seat I6 by a linkI1 pivoted I8 to the actuator,

9 intermediate its ends, and by a tension spring I9, shown particularlyin Fig. II, anchored at the outer end of the link I! and to a fixedpoint which in the embodiment illustrated of the invention is the pin13. Thus the spring I!) being under contracting stress exerts alongitudinal force on the link I! to move the actuator 9 which in turnmoves the valve member 1 against its seat 3 to close the coupling memberI against the outward flow of fluid therefrom.

The coupling member 2 is provided with a tubular portion 23 which isarranged to be telescopically received by the coupling member l. A sealis provided between the coupling member I and the tubular portion 23 ofthe coupling member 2 by a sealing ring 24. The sealing ring 2t,preferably is of synthetic rubber and of the type, being disposed in asuitable radially inwardly facing groove. It will be observed from Fig.III that as the coupling members i and 2 telescope together, the tubularportion 23 bears against thevalve member I forcing the same open againstthe action of the spring 19 and link It. One of the particular featuresof the present invention is that as the valve member l is of resilient,sheet, spring material, it may yield from a plane form and assume acurved form, as shown particularly in Fig. I, so as to permit thetubular member 23 to move by the same, while at the same time stillhaving the actuator 9 pivoted close to the path of movement of thetubular member 23. This arrangement permits a smaller and more compactcoupling than would otherwise be obtainable with the type of valvestructure disclosed.

The coupling member 2 has disposed within the tubular portion 23 a valvestructure identical with that disclosed as being disposed in thecoupling member 1, except that it is constructed on a smaller scale.While all of the details of the valve structure in Fig. 11 are the same,it will sufiice to point out that there is a valve member 25 coactingwith a valve seat 26, and an actuator 21 in turn resiliently biased by alink 23 and a spring 29.

As pointed out above, the valve 7 is opened by the tubular member 23bearing thereagainst during telescopic movement of the coupling membersI' and 2. The valve 25 is opened by a tubular member 3E1 secured in'thecoupling member engageable with the valve member 25 in the same mannerthat the tubular portion 2.; is engageable with the valve member It willbe observed that the spacing of the tubular member 33 and the pivot pinH of the valve '1 is such that the valve 1 may swing down intosubstantial parallelism with the spring l9 under the action of thetubular portion 23 without any interference occurring between the valvemember 1 and the tubular portion 30. Then as the coupling members i and2 telescope more together, after the valve 1 is fully open, the tubularportion 39 engages with the valve member '25 to open the same and tomove it in substantial parallelism with the spring 29.

The completely coupled relative positions of the coupling members I and2 is disclosed in Figs. I and II. The coupling member I is provided withan annular chamber 32 and the coupling member 2 is provided with anannular chamber 33. It will be observed by reference to Fig. I that thevalves 1 and 25 respectively are disposed within the annular chambers 32and 33 when the coupling is closed so as to provide an unobstructedpassage for fluid through the couplings. It will be observed furtherthat the valve member 25, as shown particularly in Fig. I, assumes acurved position in the annular chamber 33 so as to prevent interferencebetween it and the tubular portion 30.

It will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure that the valve membersi and 25 are disclosed as being in the coupling members E and 2respectively. It will be apparent, of course, that only one of thecoupling members need have such a valve member if it is desired tomaintain fluid in only the high pressure side of a line in which thecoupling is connected. Likewise it will be evident, as appears in Fig.III, that the valve member 1 may be opened before the valve member 25 isopened, so that if the coupling member I is the high pressure side ofthe line, the fluid pressure within. the line will open the valve member25, the latter serving as a spring biased check valve. In such anarrangement structure such as the tubular member 36 would not berequired to open the Valve 25. While we have shown specific valvedetails as incorporating one embodiment of the invention, it will beapparent that the invention may take other forms. Accordingly, -we donot wish to be limited except by the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we desire to cover by LettersPatent and claim is:

1. In a coupling of the character described, a pair of valve units, eachunit housing a seat defining a central opening, a valve member for andadapted to bear against each seat in sealing relation, means toresiliently bias each valve member against its seat, said couplinghousing a pair of tubular coupling members, one of said valve unitsbeing disposed in each of said coupling members to seal the same againstoutward fiow of fluid therefrom, one of said coupling members beingtelescoped within the other, whereby during telescoping movement thevalve member in the receiving coupling member is forced open against theaction of its biasin means by the received coupling member, and atubular nose within said receiving coupling member spaced inwardlythereof from its valve seat, for bearing on the valve of the receivedcoupling member during advanced stages of the telescoping movement,after the other valve is opened by received member, to open the saidvalve of the received coupling member.

2. A valve of the character described comprising a hollow body parthaving a continuously curved interior bore surface, a peripheral valveseat On said body part, a valve member adapted to engage said seat toclose said body part, said valve member being formed from inherentlyresilient material and having its peripheral profile corresponding inshape to that of the said continuously curved bore surface, an actuatorfor said valve member, pivoted to said valve member, means mounting saidactuator for pivotal movement, whereby upon pivotal movement of saidactuator said valve member is moved into its closed position upon saidseat or is moved back into the body part where the resilient valvemember deforms itself to the shape of the said bore surface so as to liefiat thereagainst, and means to move said actuator to engage said valvemember with said seat.

3. A valve of the character described comprising a hollow body parthaving a continuously curved interior bore surface, a peripheral valveseat on said body part, a valve member adapted to engage said seat toclose said body part, said valve member being formed from inherentlyresilient material and having its peripheral profile corresponding inshape to that of the said continuously curved bore surface, an actuatorfor said valve member, pivoted tosaid valve member,

I meansmounting said actuator for pivotal moveclosed position upon saidseat or is moved back into the body part where the resilient vvalvemember deforms itself to the shape of the said bore surface so as to lieflat thereagainst, and resilient means to pivot said actuator to movesaid valve member into closing relation with said seat, said resilientmeans being yieldable upon the application of pressure against saidvalve member in an opening direction of the latter into the hollow bodypart.

4. A valve of the character described comprising a hollow body parthaving a continuously curved interior bore surface, a peripheral valveseat on said body part, a valve member adapted to engage said seat toclose said body part, said valve member being formed from inherentlyresilient material and having its peripheral profile corresponding inshape to that of the said continuously curved bore surface, an actuatorfor said valve member, pivoted to said valve member, means mounting saidactuator for pivotal movement, whereby upon pivotal movement of saidactuator said valve member is moved into its closed position upon saidseat or is moved back into the body part where the resilient valvemember deforms itself to the shape of the said bore surface so as to lieflat thereagainst, a link pivoted at one end to said actuator, and meansto exert a yieldable force against the other end of said link to pivotsaid actuator to move said valve member into closing relation with saidseat.

5. A valve of the character described comprising a hollow body parthaving a continuously curved interior bore surface, a peripheral valveseat on said body part, a valve member adapted to engage said seat toclose said body part, said valve member being formed from inherentlyresilient material and having its peripheral profile corresponding inshape to that of the said continuously curved bore surface, an actuatorfor said valve member, pivoted to said valve member, means mounting saidactuator for pivotal movement, whereby upon pivotal movement of saidactuator said valve member is moved into its closed position upon saidseat or is moved back into the body part where the resilient valvemember deforms itself to the shape of the said bore surface so as to lieflat thereagainst, a link pivoted at one end of said actuator, and atension spring anchored at one end to the other end of said link and tosuch a fixed position as to exert a component of force axially of saidlink to pivot said actuator to move the said valve into closing relationwith said seat.

6. A valve of the character described comprising a hollow body parthaving a continuously curved interior bore surface, a peripheral valveseat on said body part, a valve member adapted to engage said seat toclose said body part, said valve member being formed from inherentlyresilient material and having its peripheral profile corresponding inshape to that of the said continuously curved bore surface, an actuatorfor said valve member, pivoted to said valve member, means mounting saidactuator for pivotal movement, whereby upon pivotal movement of saidactuator said valve member is moved into its closed position upon saidseat or is moved back into the body part where the resilient valvemember deforms itself to the shape of the said bore surface so as to liefiat thereagainst, said actuator pivot means being connected at a pointto one side of said peripheral seat, a link pivoted at one end to saidactuator, and means to exert a yieldable force against the other end ofsaid link to pivot said actuator to move said valve member into closingrelation with said seat.

7. A valve of the character describedcomprising a hollow body parthaving a continuously curved interior bore surface, a peripheral valveseat on said body part, a 'valve member adapted "to engage said seat toclose said body part, said valve member being formed from inherentlyresilient material and having its peripheral profile corresponding inshape to that of the said continuously curved bore surface, and actuatorfor said valve member, pivoted to said valve member, means mounting saidactuator for pivotal movement, whereby upon pivotal movement of saidactuator said valve member is moved into its closed position upon saidseat or is moved back into the body part where the resilient valvemember deforms itself to the shape of the said bore surface so as to liefiat thereagainst, said actuator being pivoted at one end to a fixedpoint at one side of said seat and at the other end to said valvemember, a link pivoted at one end to said actuator between the endsthereof, and a tension spring anchored at the other end of said link andto a fixed position so as to exert a component force axially of saidlink to pivot said actuator to move said valve into closed relation withsaid seat.

8. A valve of the character described comprising a hollow body parthaving a cylindrical bore, an annular valve seat on said body part, adisc-shape valve member adapted for engagement with said seat to closethe body part, said valve member being made from resilient sheet springmaterial, means pivotally mounting said valve member upon the body partfor movement into the closed position against said seat or back into thesaid cylindrical bore, said valve member being capable of deformingitself to the shape of the cylindrical bore surface as it is movedagainst the latter in the valve opening movement, an actuating arm forsaid valve member pivoted to the latter at one end and to a point at oneside of said seat at the other end, a link pivoted at one end to saidactuator between the ends thereof, and means adapted to exert ayieldable force against the other end of said link to pivot saidactuator to move said valve member into closed relation with said seat.

9. In a self-sealing coupling, a pair of tubular body parts, meansadapted releasably to connect said body parts together, said body partshaving portions which telescope with respect to one another when thebody parts are connected, an annular valve seat defined around theinterior of each body part, a disc valve for each said valve seat, meanspivotally mounting said valves on the respective body parts, said valvesbeing of inherently flexible sheet material, and resilient meansassociated with each valve to urge the valve to its seat when the bodyparts are disconnected, said valves being deformable to lie flat againstthe interior of their body parts by the telescoping of said portions,whereby to provide a free full bore flow through the connected parts.

ROBERT G. COX. DONALD W. MAIN.

(References on following page) file of this patent:

Number REFERENCES CITED The following references are .of record in theUNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Name Date McDonnell Jan. 31, 1882 Wanner Dec.13, 1887 Froelich Feb. 22, 1898 Baker May '1, 1901 Number Number .8 NameDate Russell Jan. 13, 1931 Bates Apr. 7, 1931 Kosanovich Nov. 1, 1932Danster Nov. 10, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Netherlands Aug. 25,1913

